Butter-blocking machine



Apr. 17, i923. 1,452,1{60

E. w. KNOWLTON BUTTER BLOCKING MACHINE Apr. 17, 1923. 1,452,160

E. W. KNOWLTON BUTTER BLOCKING MACHNE Filed Sept. 30 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 zg' 6a 64' if 56 l .57

/llIl//IlIl/lll//l/l//m Apr. 17, 1923. f www@ v E. W. KNOWLTON BUTTER BLOCKING MACHINE f Filed Sept. 50 1920 4 Sheets-Sheei 3 K55 ,56 wy@ W fifa/Haga Apr, 17, A1923. 1,452,116@

E. KNOWLTON BUTTER BLOCKI NG MACHINE Fild sept. .zo 1920 4 sheets-sheet 4 LLAA. 1111111111111 11 Patented Apr. l?, 1923.

Nnarran stares narrar ortica.

EUGENE W'. KNOWLTON. OF BFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 JOHN E. Sll'ITI-IS SONS COMPANY, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK,` A C@EPURATIONy OF NEW YORK.

BUTTER-BLOCKING MACHINE.

Application filed September 30, 1920. Serial No. 413,698.

T 0 @Hicham 2f may concer/n Be it known that l, EUGENE W. KNOWL- rreina citizen of the United States, residingl at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Butter Blocking, Machines, of which the following is a specication.

vThis invention relates to a butterfblocking and dispensing machine whichis morepar ticularly intended for use in hotels, restaurants and the like.

. One of the objects of this invention is to provide a machine of this character which is comparatively simple in construction, easy to manipulate, reliable in operation, and readily dismembered for cleaning purposes, as well as accessible for repairing or renewing Lparts.

Other objects are to provide improved means for changing or regulating the feed of the butter past the cutterto obtain butter cakes or blocks of various thicknesses, as desired, and to insure cutting the butter into blocks of uniform thickness for a givenadjustment of the feed mechanism.

The invention further resides in certain novel features of.` construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

ln the accompanying drawings: Figure l is a sectional sideelevation of a machine embodying my improvements. Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof. Figure 3 is a front view thereof, partly in section. Figure 4i is a horizontal section on line enel, Fig. 3, showing parts thereof broken a-way. Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section on line 5 5, Fig. 2. Figure 6 is a fragmentary horizontal section on line 6-6, Fig. 5. vertical section of the cutter operating mechanism. Figures 8 and 9 are enlarged vertical' sections on the correspondinglynumbei-ed lines in Fig. 2. Figure l0 is an enlarged vertical transverse section on line iO-10, Fig. 2. Figure ll is a fragmentary perspective view of the piston. Figure l2 is a fragmentary vertical transverse section thereof.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. y

ln its general organization. this machine Figure 7 is a fragmentary comprises a casing having a` rotatable table thereinf provided with containers or receptacl'es for the butter which is tobe out into blocks or paddies, said table-also being provided with" ice'containers-or boxes arranged betweenthe butter receptacles. By the rotation of said table, these butter containers areadaptedl toVl be successively brought into register with a feeding mechanism which forces a predetermined thickness' of butter through theopen lower end-of the respective container, after which a` cutter mechanism` operated in conjunction with the feeding mechanism, severs the projected portion of the butter from that remaining'in the container.

-Referring now to the drawings, 20 represents the casing constructed of any suitable material, such as enameled metal, andr supported on legss2l. The front portion of' the top of said'casing preferably consists of a cover section22 suitably fastened to the adjacent side walls of the casing, while the rear portion of the top consists of a vertically-swinging lid 23 hinged to therear wall of the casing and having a handle or knob 24 for operating it.

Arranged horizontally in the bottom.I of the casing is a rotatable or turn-table 25 fixed to an` upright shaft 26 journaled` at its lower end in a step bearing 27 formed in the bottom of the casing, whileits upper end j extends through a bearing or opening 28 in the cover section 22. Collars 29 and 30 pinned or votherwise secured to the shaft prevent Avertical displacement thereof. The eX- tremel outer end of the shaft is provided with ahandle 3l by which it is turned to rotate the table. Mounted on the latter are a plurality of butter containers 32, preferably square in cross section, which may be integral therewith or separate and removable therefrom. ln either case,` they are open at both ends to enable the same to be filled with butter at one end and discharged at the other. The discharge aperture 32 of each container is of smaller dimensions than its body, so as to mold the butter into Jthe desired size or cross section, preparatory to cutting it into blocks.

lce receptacles or chambers are arranged in the space between the butter containers to afford the necessary refrigeration to keep the butter fresh and hard. rlhe table 25 is adapted to be rotated to successively position the butter containers at a predetermined point where the butter feeding mechanism is located. To arrest the movement of the table at the desired point, a stop is provided which preferably com prises a spring pressed pin or catch 34 arranged to engage locking recesses or notches 35 arranged in the underside of the table adjacent the edge thereof, such a notch being located centrally` opposite each butter container. As shown in Fig. 5, this catch is disposed horizontally in the front wall of the casing and provided with a knob 36 for withdrawing it t0 release the table. y

The mechanism for ejecting or feeding the butter through the discharge end of each containeiyis preferably constructed as follows:

37 indicates a vertically swinging base plate which normally closes a filling opening 38 in the central front portion of the cover-section 22 of the casing and below which the butter containers are adapted to be successivelybrought. This base plate is hinged at its rear end to a fixed support 39 byl means of a pintle 40, said support being fastened to the rear portion of the cover section 22 and having an opening 41 therein through which the shaft 26 passes. Carried by and guided in the base plate 37 is a square piston or plunger 42 for forcing the butter through the container. rThe piston is provided with a rod or stem 43 extending upwardly through an opening' 44 in said plate, the upper endof said rod being provided with a removable knob 43a. The piston-rod is provided on two sides thereof with ratchet teeth 45, 46, of diferent sizes, whereby a greater or less stroke may be imparted to the piston for cutting butter blocks of different thicknesses. y bracket 47 adjacent the rear end of the base plate 37 is a vertically-swinging lever or arm `48 whose central portion is forked to permit the piston rod to pass freely therebetween. Pivotally mounted in the forked portion of this lever, in rear of the piston rod, is a vertically oscillating feed pawl 49 which is normally held in engagement with one of the rows of ratchet teeth or 46 of the piston rod by a spring 50. A detent 51 is arranged below the feed pawl and slidably mounted on the base plate 37, being normally held in engagement with the ratchet teeth of the piston rod by a spring The feed pawl and the detent serve to guide the piston rod on the base plate 37 and tend to press the same against the front side of the guide opening 44, thereby keeping the rod properly centered.

The front portion of the lever 48 terminates in a yoke 54 having an irregular opening or cam face 55 with which co-operate means for actuating said lever to feedthe Fulcrumed on a standard or dle 60 for this purpose is mounted on one end of this shaft. As shown in Figs. 2 and 10, the forward movement of the rock shaft is limited by a spring pressed pin 6l carried by the inner end of the operating handle and adapted to engage a shoulder 62 on the face of the adjacent standard 57.

Means are provided for varying the extent of movement vof the feed lever 48 through the yoke 54 whereby the stroke of the piston 42 is likewise varied and consequently the thickness of the butter blockto be severed. These devices are preferably constructed as follows:

Mounted on the shaft 56 between the right hand collar 58 and the adjacent standard 57 are two disks or controllingplates 63, 64 arranged side by side and capable of oscillat'ing independently of each, other and of said shaft. A coupling pin 65, carried by the said collar 58 is adapted to engage registering segmental slots 66, 67 in the plates 63, 64, respectively, said slots being of equal length. As shown in Figs. 8, 9 `and 10, one of these plates, preferably the inner plate 63, is provided in its outer portion with an opening 68, the inner edge of which is pro* vided with radial notches 69, 70, while the other plate 64 is provided in its outer portion with a single radial notch or keyway 71. Yieldingly carried by the outerplate 64 is a cou )ling key or dog 72 which is arranged in t e notch 7l of the outer plate and adapt ed to engage one or the other of the notches in the inner plate 63. This key `is preferably carried by a spring 73 secured to the plate 64 by a screw 74 and normally ltending to hold said key in its inner position against the bottoms of the notches. A suitable head or finger piece 75 is arranged at one-end of the key for disengaging it from one or the other of the notches 69. Extending inwardly from the right hand standard 57 is a stop pin 76 which engages a segmental slot 77 in the outer plate 64 and limits the extent ofmovement in both directions of said plate and its companion plate 63, which is adjustably connected therewith by the key 72 and notches 69, 70.

ln the normal position of the parts shown in the drawings. reference being had more particularly to Figs. 8, 9 and l0, the key 7 2 is in engagement with the rear notch 69. and the segmental slots 66, 67 of the plates are lapped: or o-ut of complete register with each erating handle is moved forward and the cutting of a relatively thin block of butter by the cutter mechanism hereinafter described. It will be understood that during the initial. rearward movement of the operating handle, the coupling pin travels idly in the slots of the plates until` it engagesthe opposing end of the sloty 66 ofthe inner plate 63, which causesboth controlling plates to turn with the operating shaft 56 until arrested the plate 64 engaging the 'fixed stop pin 76. The lever 48, on the other hand, is moved upward from the beginning of the operative stroke, inasmuch as the rollers 59 engage the cam face of the yoke 54 at all times. When it is desired to cut thicker blocks of butter, the effective strokeofY the piston must obviously be increased, and this is accomplished by withdrawing the coupling key 72 from the notch 69, turning the plate G3 rearwardly by ineansof itsifinger piece 63, and setting the key in the notch 70, thus bringing the segmentali slots 66, 67 into complete register. Theinitialfupward stroke of the operating handle is now increased and the feed pawl raised two teeth, resulting in a longer stroke ofthe piston and a correspondingly thicker block of butter.

rIhe cutter mechanism forV intermittently severing the projected bar of butter` co-operates with the ejectingmechanism, and is preferably constructed as follows.:

78 indicates azeutter or knife of any suitable construction arranged to travel in a horizontal plane across the discharge end of the particular butter container under the piston feeding mechanism. This cutter is mounted on a frame 79 of heavy wire or other suitable material. having a downwardly bent shank 80 which extends thro-ugh an outlet opening Slin` the bottom of the casing. This shank terminates in a: laterally otfset` portion 82 which is` fastened to an arm S3 secured to the lower end of a short upright rock shaft 84 suitably supported in the bottom of said casing. The uppeuend ofl this rock shaft, which extends into the casing, is provided with an. arm 85 having asgherica-l knuckle 8G :at its outer end which engages a socket 8T inV a horizontally disposed link 88,. The latterisconnected with one arm of a vertically movable bell crank lever 89, while theother arm thereof is connected by links -withthe lower end of a vertically movable plunger 9i guided. in a by the end of theslot? of tube 92 fastened to the inner side of` the adjacent front wall of the casing. A spring 93 surrounding the lower end of this plunger and bea-ring at one end against the lower end of the guide tube and at its other end against a shoulder 94 of said plunger, tends constantly to force the latter upwardly, thereby moving the cutter to the position shown by dotted lines in liig. -l. llii'oted to the outer controlling plate (S-l a depending push rodv 95 which passes through a guide opening 9G in the hinged base plate 37 and engages the head 9T of the plunger 9i. ln the normal depressed position of the operating handle 60, the rod 95 together with the resistance offered by the associated parts, holds the plunger down against the tension of the spring 93, in which position the cutter assumes the position shown by` full lines in F a. The shank 8O of tl e cutter frame is arranged toeugage the adjacent edges of the opening Si? toY limit the movement of the cutter in both directions. A stop flange or collar 98 at the lower end of the plunger limits the upward movement thereof.

The piston 4:2 is preferably constructed in such a manner that in withdrawing it from the butter container the resulting vacuum is broken to prevent the butter still remain.- ing in the reduced discharge end thereof from being sucked or drawn up with the piston. ln its preferred form, the pistou is composed of two vertically-movable leaves 99 hinged at 100 to a head or horizontal plate lOl secured to a collar 102 fastened to the lower end of the piston rod 4:3. These leaves are provided on their undersides with pads 103 of rubber or similar resilient mate rial, and the ends of the head lOl are provided with similar face pads 104, whereby :iu tight joint is produced between the piston and the rbutter container. For this purpose` these pads project slightly beyond the marginal edges of the leaves and the head` T he inner edges of the leaves are hinged to opposite sides of said head and when the pistou is lowered upon the mass of butter in the container, the leaves unfold in line with each other, as shown in Figs. 5 and l2, in which position they abut against the bottom of the collar 102, limiting their upward movement beyond that point and forming a practically square rigid piston. When the piston is withdrawn Jfrom the container. its hinged leaves fold downwardly by gravity and by their frictional engagement with the wall of the container. Each leaf is provided with a suitable stop, preferably a hooked stop-arm secured thereto and adapted to engage the opposite side of the piston rod to prevent the total collapse of the piston, as shown in Fig ll.

In loading the machine with butter. it is only necessary to open the hinged lid 23 of the casing and successively lill the containers by turning the table 25. 'l'he hinged base plate 37 on which the piston feed and cutter actuating mechanism are mounted, may be raised and swung backwardly after withdrawingthe piston clear of the container and thereby enable the containers to be filled through the opening 38, if desired. rThis is especially advantageous when the machine is placed with its back against a wall, wnere it is inconvenient to fill the containers from the rear of the machine. By removing the hinged pintle l0 from its mounting, it is possible to completely remove the base plate 37 and associated parts from the machine, facilitating cleaning of the parts as well as ready access for repairs etc. A clamping or cam-lever 106 pivotcd on the front portion of this base plate is adapted to interlock with the head or lip l0? of a post 107A fastened to the adjacent portion of the casing, for reliably holding` said plate down in its normal position. The post extends through an opening 10S in the base plate.

The locking catch also serves as a support for the front part thereof, thus relieving the 'table from the downward strains incidental to forcingl the butter through the containers. By this arrangement, brealiage of the table is avoided and it is also prevented from rotating` unevenly and wearing untrue.

The operation of the machine is as follows:

Assume the parts to be in the position shown by full lines in the drawings, in which the operating handle GG is in a substantially horizontal position, the piston having just forced a square bar of the butter through the discharge end of the container and the cutter having` severed a bloei-1 and occupying its forward position underneath thecontainer. To cut another block, the operator turns the operating handle rearwardly to a substantially vertical position, as shown by dotted lines in. Fig. 5, the initial movement thereof causing the coupling pin (l5 to move idly in the segmental slots of the controlling plates G3, (la, which are simultaneously turned rearwardlv about said shaft by thev upward thrust of the spring-pressed plunger 91 through the medium of the push rod 95. .is the plunger mises in its guide tube, the cutter is swung rearwardly until the stop collar 98 of the plunger en ges the lower end of the guide tube, when the cutter assumes the dott-ed line position shown in Fig. fl. During the final uuu-ward movement of the operating handlethe coupling pin 65 encounters the opposing end of the slot 6G of the inner plate 53 and causes both plates.: to turn with the operating shaft 58 until further movement of they latter prevented by the end of the slot 7T of the plate (lll engaging the stop pin 76. is previously deila of the turn table 25,.

scribed, thelever 48, through the medium of the yole 54- and rollers 59 is swung upward during the full rearward stroke of the operating handle., thereby raising the feed pawl one tooth on the ratchet of the piston rod preparatory to its effective downward stroke. After thus moving the operating handle rearwardly, the operator swings it forwardly to its initial position, the `first part of this movement forcing the piston downward in the contai er in an obvious manner and projecting a portion of butter through the discharge end lthereof. During the iinal forward movement of this handle, the coupling pin (55 engages the end of` the slot 67 of the outer controlling plate 64, turning the latter forwarilly and lowering the rod to depressthe i'ilunger 9i which causes the cutter to swingl forwardly and sever the projected portion of butter .in the form of a block.

llhe parts are so constructed and tuned that the piston and the cutter operate alternately, the piston being at rest during the` cutting stroke of the knife so as to out neat blocks of uniform thickness for all adjustments of the piston feeding mechanism. F or this purpose the cam opening in the yoke 54 is so constructed that after the piston has been forced downwardly a step the rollers are-ineffective during the final forward movement of the operating handle, thereby retaining` the lever 48 in a neutral or stationary position during the 'time the cutter is operating.

Should it be desired to cut blocks of a different thickness, the piston is removed from the container and given a quarter turn to bring the other row of ratchet teeth into operative position withreferenee to the feed pawl 49. As previoiisly described, the stroke of the operating handle may also be vshortened or lengthened to vary the stroke of the piston and hence the thickness of the butterbloclis. The mechanism shown in the drawings affords four adjustments for this purpose, two being obtained by the coarse and line ratchet teeth 45, i6 of the piston rod and the other two by the adjustment of the controlling plates 63, Gel.

While my improvements are herein shown and described in connection with a but-ter blocking machine, they are obviously applicable to machines for blocking er serving other foods or articles.

I claiml as my invention:

l. A. machine of the character described, comprising a easing, a j table rotatably mounted therein and having radial notches adjacent to the periphery thereof, butter containers arranged on said table and open at either end, an ejectingv device adapted to (3o-operate with each container for intermittently discharging butter therefrom, and a retractible stop arranged radially of said lli) lul)

table and adapted to engage said notches to properly positioncach container in alinement with said ejecting device. v

2. A machine of the character described comprising a casing, y a table rotatably mounted therein, butter containers arranged in spaced relation on said table and open at either end, means for ejecting butter from each container, and receptacles Iadapted to contain a refrigerating medium and arranged in the spaces between said containers. v

3. A machine of the character described, comprising a casing having -a fixed cover portion provided With an opening anda movable cover portion, a table rotatably mounted in said casing, butter containers arranged on said table and adapted to register With the opening in said fixed cover portion, a plate movably mounted on the latter and normally closing said opening, and means carried by said plate for ejecting the contents of said containers.

4. A machine of the character described comprising a casing having an opening in its top, a butter container open at both ends arranged in said casing in -alinement with said opening, a plate hinged to said casing and normally closing thev opening therein, a piston for said container having a rod provided With ratchet teeth, a lever fulcrumed on said plate and provided With a yoke, a feed paWl on said lever, and means on said plate engaging said yoke for actuating said lever. 'i

5. A machine of the character described comprising a casing, a butter container -arranged in said casing and having a discharge opening, an ejectingdevice for expelling butter through said opening, means for actuating said ejectingdevice, a cutter movable transversely of the discharge opening, a rock shaft having rock arms one of which carries the cutter, a vertically-movable p-lunger operated by said actuating means, a vertically oscillating bell crank lever, a link connecting one arm of said lever With said plunger, and a horizontallyy disposed link connecting the other arm of said lever with the other ot said rock arms.

6. A machine of the character described comprising a casing, a. butter container arranged in said casing and having a discharge opening, an ejecting device in said container, an oscillatory lever fulcrumed on said casing and opera-tively connected to said ejecting device, means for actuating said lever, a cutter movable transversely of said discharge opening and having a rock arm, a vertically movable plunger operatively connected to said rock arm, and means controlled by said lever-actuating means for operating said plunger.

7. A machine of the character described, comprising a casing, a butter container archarge opening, an ejecting device in said container, a rock shaft journalcd onv said casing and carrying a coupling-pin, a plate mounted on sad shaft and having a segmental slot which engages said pin, a cut-ter movable .across the discharge endof said container, a vertically-movable member for operating said cutter, and :i push rod connected to said plate t'or actuating said vertically-movable member, and means carried by said shaiit 'for actuating said ejecting device.

9. A machine of the character described comprising a container for butter, means for expelling the butter from said container, an oscillatory lever movable in the plane of movement of said expelling means for actuating the latter, and means for regulating the extent of movement of said lever.

l0. A machine of the character described comprising a container for butter, means for expelling the butterrtrom said container, an oscillatory lever for actuating said expelling means, a yoke carried by said lever, means engaging said yoke for acuating said lever, and means for regulating the extent of movement of said yoke-engaging means.

11.111 a machine of the character described comprising a. container for butter, means tor expelling the butter from said container, an oscillatory lever tor actuating said expelling means, a yoke carried by said lever, a rock shaft arranged at right angles to the plane ot movement ot said oscillatory lever, means secured to said shaft andy engaging said yoke for actuating said lever, a member loosely arranged on said shaft and operatively connected to said yokeengaging means, and means for limitingi the extent ot movement of said member to control the thronT ot said oscillatory lever.

12. In a machine ot the character described comprising a container tor butter. means for expelling the butter troni said container, an oscillatory lever tor controlling said expelling means. a yoke carried by said lever, a rock shaft arranged at right angles to the plane of movement of said oscillatory lever, bearings tor said shaft. an actuating-member for said lever secured to said shaft and engaging said yoke, a. Incinber loosely arranged on said shaft and having segmental slots, a coupling pin carried by said actuating member and engaging one of said slots, and a stop pin carried by the adjacent shaft-bearing and engaging the other of said slots.

18. A. machine ot the character described comprising a container Ator butter, means for expelling the butter from said container, deans tor actuating said expelling means, means tor adjustably regulating the extent ot movement of said actuating means, including va pair ot rotatable plates having alined segmental slots, a coupling device 'forming part ot said actuating means and engaging said slots, means tor adjust-ably connecting said plates together to vary the effective ".vorking length of said slots, and means 'tor limiting the extent ot movement of said plates.

14. A machine ot the character described comprising a container for butter, means for expelling the butter from said container,`

means Jfor actuating said expelling means, means tor ad]ustably regulating the extent v et' movement of said actuating means, in-

cluding a pair of rotatable plates having alined segmental slots, a coupling device forming part of said actuating means and engaging said slots, one ot said plates having a plurality of locking notches and the other a similar notch co-operating with either ot' the first-named notches, a locking member adapted to engage the notches et said plates to cause the latter to turn together, and means :tor limiting the extent of rotation of said plates.

15. A machine of the character described comprising a container for butter, a piston for said container, a rod for said piston having ratchet teeth thereon, an oscillatory lever terminating at its tree end in a yoke, a pawl carried by said leverand co-operating With said'teeth to advance said piston, a transverse rock sha-tt, a handle tor actuating said shaft, an actuating member tor said lever secured to said shaft and engaging said yoke, a pair of members rotatably arranged on said shaft and controlling the extent oit movement of said lever, said members being provided With alined segmental slots, a coupling pin carried by said actuating member and engaging said slots, means for adjustably connecting said plates to vary the effective Working length ot said slots, and a stop member on one ot said plates for limiting the extent ot movement thereof in either direction.

16. A machine of the character described comprising a casing having alined openings in its top and bottom, a butter container arranged in said casing and adapted to be positioned between and in line with said openings, a cover plate arranged over said top opening ad movable relatively thereto, means carried by said plate for discharging the butter from said container, and means arranged in said casing and operating between the container and said easing bottom for severing the dischargedportion of the butter.

17. An ejector for butt-er containers comprising a rod, collapsible piston leaves mounted on said rod and hinged on an axis at right angles thereto, and stop-arms secured to said leaves and arranged to engage said rod for limiting the collapsing movement of the leaves.

EUGENE VW. KNOWLTON. 

